50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Just starting out and need some advise? then post it in here.

50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby davesims » Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:47 am

Hi all

I am picking up a 50 liter stainless mash kettle and i am looking at heat source alternatives, i originally was going to tap a hole and mount a 2000 watt heating element but i suppose i could use a heat plate or gas burner.

What do you guys suggest?
davesims
 
Posts: 237
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 8:44 am
equipment: T500 copper and the usual noobie bits and pieces

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby orcy » Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:09 pm

Dual 2200 watt elements take me about 50 to 60 minutes to heat up in a 50l keg. Thats uninsulated.
orcy
 
Posts: 359
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 1:02 pm
Location: Seaford, VIC
equipment: Old style T500 style still. honestly, I dont even remember who made it anymore
4 inch soon to be modular pot.

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby Kenster » Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:47 pm

Dave, as orcy says, two elements are the go. A single 2kw element in a 50lit boiler will take you FOREVER to heat up, maybe 1.5hrs. I run an extra 3.5kw element in my T500 (30lit)
boiler and it takes (with the combined 2k std element and the 3.5kw) around 30/40 min to get to boil. I then drop off the 2kw and power control with the 3.5kw.
Fleabay...cheap,,, For an extra 15 bucks you will not look back.
Kenster
 
Posts: 643
Joined: Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:53 pm
equipment: Still Spirits... turbo 500...retired.(Boiler retained, added 3kw element with variable temp)
RPG...3''x1200mm LM/VM combo...400mm double wound coldie
3''x1200mm copper pot & shares leibig from combo.

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby bluc » Tue Sep 12, 2017 7:51 pm

Is it just for boiling water in a 3v system? Or are you mashing in it?
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby Lowie » Tue Sep 12, 2017 8:49 pm

I use a 3000W heater, takes me spot on 1 hr to heat up 40L. Before I upgraded my shed power to 15A I was able to run it no problem if I turned everything else off - including the beer fridge :handgestures-thumbdown:
Lowie
 
Posts: 712
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 1:32 pm
Location: Crow eater
equipment: 4", 4 plate "Frankenfurter" copper bubbler and blockhead on a 50L 3000W electric boiler, 10000W controller - don't even know why I need that much, all grain HERMS system through 18G HLT keg and 50L mash tun.

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby P3T3rPan » Wed Sep 13, 2017 10:11 am

davesims wrote:Hi all

I am picking up a 50 liter stainless mash kettle and i am looking at heat source alternatives, i originally was going to tap a hole and mount a 2000 watt heating element but i suppose i could use a heat plate or gas burner.

What do you guys suggest?

Mashing with elements in the mash tun is a pain in the ass
P3T3rPan
 
Posts: 435
Images: 0
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:34 am
Location: Wellington NZ
equipment: Self made 100mm copper,6 perforated plates plus packed section on 50L ss keg
60L fermenters. Offset Carter Head
3v beer rig

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby bluc » Wed Sep 13, 2017 10:31 am

He calls it a mash kettle so maybe he is setting up a 3 vessel system..
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby P3T3rPan » Wed Sep 13, 2017 10:44 am

If you are indeed referring to a hot liquor tank (hlt) then the advantage to having electric elements is that you can set it up on a timer so that when you get to the shed the water is already hot.
Gas is great for the boil kettle.
I don't heat my mash tun, just insulate the bejeesus to it.
P3T3rPan
 
Posts: 435
Images: 0
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:34 am
Location: Wellington NZ
equipment: Self made 100mm copper,6 perforated plates plus packed section on 50L ss keg
60L fermenters. Offset Carter Head
3v beer rig

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby davesims » Wed Sep 13, 2017 10:49 am

Hello all sorry for the late reply

I have called this a mash kettle as thats what it was advertised as, i will be using it to heat water for washes, at times boiling bran for Fast ferment vodka washes and general boiling duties i suppose
davesims
 
Posts: 237
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 8:44 am
equipment: T500 copper and the usual noobie bits and pieces

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby davesims » Wed Sep 13, 2017 5:37 pm

davesims wrote:Hello all sorry for the late reply

I have called this a mash kettle as thats what it was advertised as, i will be using it to heat water for washes, at times boiling bran for Fast ferment vodka washes and general boiling duties i suppose


Hope that did not sound arrogant, it was not intended that way
davesims
 
Posts: 237
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2016 8:44 am
equipment: T500 copper and the usual noobie bits and pieces

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby Wobblyboot » Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:02 pm

I use a 4ring burner on mine, heats up 45l in about 50min. Can get faster heat up times with hp reg.
Wobblyboot
 
Posts: 669
Images: 0
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 4:41 pm
Location: Melb
equipment: 4" glass bubbler

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby bluc » Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:21 pm

davesims wrote:
davesims wrote:Hello all sorry for the late reply

I have called this a mash kettle as thats what it was advertised as, i will be using it to heat water for washes, at times boiling bran for Fast ferment vodka washes and general boiling duties i suppose


Hope that did not sound arrogant, it was not intended that way

Nope all good its called a" hot liqueur tank" :handgestures-thumbupleft:
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby P3T3rPan » Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:50 pm

davesims wrote:
davesims wrote:Hello all sorry for the late reply

I have called this a mash kettle as thats what it was advertised as, i will be using it to heat water for washes, at times boiling bran for Fast ferment vodka washes and general boiling duties i suppose


Hope that did not sound arrogant, it was not intended that way

no offence was taken, the advertiser don't know shit from clay
P3T3rPan
 
Posts: 435
Images: 0
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:34 am
Location: Wellington NZ
equipment: Self made 100mm copper,6 perforated plates plus packed section on 50L ss keg
60L fermenters. Offset Carter Head
3v beer rig

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby P3T3rPan » Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:52 pm

bluc wrote:
davesims wrote:
davesims wrote:Hello all sorry for the late reply

I have called this a mash kettle as thats what it was advertised as, i will be using it to heat water for washes, at times boiling bran for Fast ferment vodka washes and general boiling duties i suppose


Hope that did not sound arrogant, it was not intended that way

Nope all good its called a" hot liqueur tank" :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Ha ha *"liquor"
P3T3rPan
 
Posts: 435
Images: 0
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:34 am
Location: Wellington NZ
equipment: Self made 100mm copper,6 perforated plates plus packed section on 50L ss keg
60L fermenters. Offset Carter Head
3v beer rig

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby bluc » Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:52 pm

Oops :laughing-rolling:
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby P3T3rPan » Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:54 pm

bluc wrote:Oops :laughing-rolling:

lol
P3T3rPan
 
Posts: 435
Images: 0
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:34 am
Location: Wellington NZ
equipment: Self made 100mm copper,6 perforated plates plus packed section on 50L ss keg
60L fermenters. Offset Carter Head
3v beer rig

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby orcy » Wed Sep 13, 2017 8:27 pm

If you are talking beer terminology, you have a hot liqueur tank, a mash tun, and a kettle. But the hlt and kettle are essentially interchangeable. The mash tun doesnt have an element. Either way, the type of elements or hest sources entitelyl depends on how long you have to sit arount waiting for shit to heat up. Most times given here are for 8 to 14 percent washes. Water takes longer since it has to get to a higher temp to boil
orcy
 
Posts: 359
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 1:02 pm
Location: Seaford, VIC
equipment: Old style T500 style still. honestly, I dont even remember who made it anymore
4 inch soon to be modular pot.

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby bluc » Wed Sep 13, 2017 9:54 pm

Unless it is a rims or herms than it has an external element and the grain bed acts as a filter to keep solids off the element..
bluc
Site Donor
 
Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby boxerboy81 » Tue May 16, 2023 5:27 pm

Hello all.
First post for me, hoping to tag onto the end of this thread to answer a similar question.
I have a 30L fermenting tank. I've added a zippered on waterski wet suit as an insulator.
I also have a glass encased tubular heating element that hangs sealed from the lid into the mash. Is this an element useful for a mash destined for a clean spirit?
Cheers
boxerboy81
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2023 4:27 pm
equipment: Ultra pure still

Re: 50 Liter mash kettle , what heat source to use?

Postby Wellsy » Tue May 16, 2023 8:16 pm

Welcome aboard boxer boy. Why don’t you drop into the welcome centre and tell us what you are hoping to produce and what equipment you have mate
Wellsy
 
Posts: 2198
Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 7:48 am
Location: Victoria
equipment: FSD 4” Modular Pot Still plus 4 FSD Bubble plates on FSD 50 ltr Milk Can Boiler + 2 x 2400W FSD Element and Guard Kits


Return to Beginners Questions



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests

x